David LLoyd, Burton Waters

The David Lloyd at Burton Waters is a proper sports complex about three miles south of Lincoln, right on the water's edge. It's the sort of place where you'd come to actually use the facilities rather than just look around - think swimming pools, tennis courts, a gym, and a health club spread across decent grounds. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like South Cliff or Hartsholme Country Park just up the road, it's worth knowing about for rainy days or when the kids need burning off.

The pools are the main draw, especially if you've got young ones in tow. The leisure pool area tends to be busier during school holidays, so weekday mornings are your best bet if you want space to actually swim. Adults after a proper workout will find the gym and studio classes useful enough, though it won't knock your socks off if you're used to larger city chains.

Burton Waters itself is a marina village, so there's something oddly pleasant about combining a bit of lakeside walking with a swim. The complex isn't free - you'll pay membership or day rates, which aren't cheap - but if you're based at Lakeside Touring Caravan Park or Camper UK for a week, it could save you a fortune in entertainment costs versus driving into Lincoln for activities. Allow a couple of hours minimum, more if you're doing multiple facilities. It's functional rather than flashy, but that's often exactly what a family holiday needs.